Thursday 19th
It rained hard last night, and there was a bit of thunder and lightening. It’s the first rain we’ve had the whole trip but it was OK. Some nice people stopped next to us last night and we sat and chatted to them for about two hours. We got up quite late this morning as we didn’t have to leave until 11.00am. Mum decided that rather than drive back up the motorway, we’d take the route nationales. They are main roads that go through towns and villages and you see much more of France that way. We drove about 150 miles along these, and that was cool because we went along much of the Tour route and saw the towns as they usually are.
When we got to place called Senlis, we got onto the motorway because we needed to go a bit faster. I think Senlis is quite near Paris but we didn’t want to go into Paris because that would be like going into London, with lots of traffic. That wasn’t as good because its just driving and the countryside is a bit boring in Northern France – very flat and nothing much to look at. But we got to Calais OK and they let us on the boat. We didn’t even get searched at customs – which Mum said was bound to happen because it always does when she goes anywhere.
Mum now says that she’s got a load of work to do, sorting out and cataloguing photos and uploading them. She’s also got a couple of other jobs this week, including two weddings and a thing with a presentation, to do before we go back to France next weekend for the finiah in Paris. That will be great and I’m looking forward to going there. I think I’ve been before but I can’t really remember much about it because I was small.
Col de Galibier Tuesday July 17th
We had a really excellent day today. We got up early (again) and drove in a big circle to get round the Alps, and to the foot of one of the biggest climbs of the Tour – the climb up the Galibier Pass. This is a very high pass and Le Tour always goes up this one or the Alpe d’Huez. This year it went up this one. But because of the mountains, it’s difficult to get to places and sometimes its easier to drive right round – which is what we did.
We were a bit worried that they wouldn’t let us up the mountain, especially when Mum couldn’t find her pass, but she said that what we would do is just drive as far as we could before we got stopped and then argue. The signs at the bottom of the road to Galibier actually said that the pass was shut. These signs usually refer to the weather conditions, but as we found out later, they’d used them to try and stop too many people going up because they are only tiny little roads.
We drove about 15 miles up and there were people camped out all the way, then eventually we came to a little town called Valloire, where there was a traffic jam because the gendarmes were directing people into car parks and the people didn’t want to go where the gendarmes said they had to. But as we were waiting, another car with a sticker like ours went up the wrong side of the road and past all the jam, and the gendarmes opened the barrier. Mum followed them quickly and waved a piece of paper at them and smiled, and they let us through too. She told me not to turn round just in case, and we sped off after the other car. That was really lucky because we managed to get right to the top of the pass as a result, and we got a great spot just as the riders came down the first bit.
It was amazing up on the Galibier. It was like moonscape – no vegetation, but just loose rocks. We also had a great view of the surrounding mountains, and although it was windy, it was still very hot. We made a banner that said “ Wiggins” on it and spread it out on the back of the car. I hope he saw it when he came down. We also met some English cyclists who had ridden up from the bottom and we chatted to them for quite a while.
When the riders came along eventually, they were very strung out. That was probably because it was such a hard climb up and not all of them are great at climbs. Wiggins was near the back, as was Boonen, but we shouted at Charlie Wegilus when he came over, and Geraint Thomas, and David Millar. When it was all over, we drove down the other side and got stopped twice by the gendarmes, but Mum had found her pass by then and they let us through. When we looked back up from the bottom, we could see people walking and cycling all the way down the mountain. They looked like tiny ants. It was amazing because people had walked right up from the bottom and were carrying all sorts of stuff. It must have been very hard work, and it was a long way.
Tallard to Marseille 18th July
We didn’t watch the cycling today because we worked out that it would have been a very long day to go all the way to Marseille and then come back again, and get back to Calais for Thursday evening. It didn’t matter that much because we’ll be going to Paris for the final bit anyway. But it did mean that we got a bit of time to look around and so we went up Alpe d’ Huez – the other big alpine climb that they’re not using this year.
It’s very different from the Galibier and is much more made up and has \a ski resort at the top. I didn’t like it that much but it was good to see. I bought a Liquigas jacket in a shop at the top – that’s Charlie Wegilus’s team. Then as we started to come back down, Mum said why didn’t I ride down. So I did. She followed me in the car and said that I was going at 35-40mph all the way. It was really cool, and I remembered to get my pedals in the right positions on the corners.
Then we drove to Genoble and Lyon , up to Macon, and then stayed at Samur en Auxois. Some English people stopped next to us and I went for ride with the man. It was a good day, and it was nice to see some other stuff on the way. Samur is a funny old town and its on a hill. We didn’t see too much of it on the ride, but it looked nice.
The Alps Part Two
It was OK sleeping in the car last night. In fact, it was fun, and it was just as well that we went early because lots of people got up very early and came up the mountain to get a place. The roads closed at 10.00am. Got a spot inside a hairpin bend which meant that we could see the riders both sides of the bend. And it was the only one without trees in the way, so we had a good view and we could see the mountains and the pastures (meadows).
The caravane came along as usual but the coffee van stopped and made us all coffee, which was nice. We forgot the flag, so we just shouted as loud as we could when we saw a British rider. We kept an eye out for all of them (five) but we only saw Wiggins, Geraint Thomas and Charlie Wegelius. I think we must have missed David Millar, and we looked out for Mark Cavendish but couldn’t see him, but then after the broom wagon had gone by, we spotted Cavendish in the team car. He had cuts and scrapes up his arms so he’d probably come off. It was very hot up the mountain, and we were just sitting down, so it must have been very hard for the riders. We nearly managed to get one of the bottles that a rider threw down, but a woman nicked it before we could get there. We had a good old chat with some French people who let us listen to their radio. It was exciting today. Tomorrow is a rest day, and we’re going to Italy for lunch. Bon appitito, si?
Day Nine Into the Alps - Beon and Beaufort
Today is Bastille Day. That’s the French National Day when they celebrate the creation of the French Republic after the revolution. Mum says it’s official recognition that the French were revolting.
We left the campsite at Bourg en Bresse nice and early because we had to find petrol, and then we drove towards The Alps. It was the hottest day so far today and there was no shade. We decided that because the roads are very small and follow the valleys and rivers going up into the mountains, it would be difficult to try and see the race at several spots. So we went to a place called Beon which is in the lower hills of the Alps. We found a place next to a vineyard that went right up the side of a very steep hill. I sat on a bank at the bottom, but Mum climbed up into the vineyard with her big lens so that she could look down onto the riders as they came by and get some of the vines in. She was very hot and red when she came back though! The countryside round here looks very much like Italy and that’s because Italy is only just over the other side of the mountain tops. Its probably not that far in a straight line, but it takes ages to drive because the roads have to wind their way up the side of the mountains to get across.
Afterwards, we drove to a place called Beaufort which is higher up into the Alps and we stayed here. It’s a ski village in the winter and it looks like those pictures that you get of ski slopes. The town was decorated with Tour stuff and I saw a really good decoration. It was a cone with bikes on it, put right next to a road sign that said “no bikes”!
Because the roads are so skinny here and there are very few alternative routes, we decided to go up the mountain very early to get a good place near a hairpin bend for tomorrow. We slept in the car, but there were already lots of people doing the same thing. We slept next to some Belgian camper vans, on a grass verge quite near to the top. It’s strange here because you can hear cars coming but you can’t see them. That’s because they are further down the mountain coming up the hairpins but are not actually very far away. But because the roads wiggle about, it sounds like there are very near.
Day Eight
It was well good today. We stopped at a place called Buxy on a flat bit not far from Challon sur Saone. We were next to a vineyard on a long, straight bit of road. The caravan was a bit boring today – maybe they’ve got fed up with waving and throwing things at people. But I still got lots of free stuff.
But what was really good today was that Bradley Wiggins was way out in front of everybody and he came past us, surrounded by motorbikes and helicopters. I was standing on the roof of the car with a loud hailer and I shouted “come on Brad” and “come on Wiggo” at him, and waved my flag. Mum and I made it yesterday from a bit of cloth and a stick that I made her go and buy. I wrote the names of the British riders on the flag and Wiggins – because he’s my favourite- is the first name. He must have heard me as I was right next to him.
We also managed to get to the finish and I saw them coming up the final bit. Mum got to the finish line but said that it was very rough in the press pit because the gendarmes were pushing the photographers about.
When she’d finished sending her pictures, we tried to get out of Bourg en Bress but everywhere was blocked off. We couldn’t find our way out and the gendarmes kept sending us in circles. Mum reckons they’re related to the Sat Nav. But we eventually found our campsite, had something to eat, and went to sleep. I was very tired.
Day 7 Samur en Auxois to Bourg en Bresse
We slept well last night and had a look round Chagny on our bikes. It was a nice little town but we decided that we’d drive out of town to watch the race rather than watch it with lots of people. So we drove to just south of Buxy and set up on a long stretch of road. The caravane came along after a while, but they weren’t as generous as yesterday, although I still got quite a bit of stuff. Its really hot today, and we’re right next to a vineyard, and there’s a castle over the field. We made a flag with the names of the British riders on it and I waved it and shouted as the rode past. Fabien Cancerella still has the yellow jersey, so he is doing well. That’s six days in a row. Bradley Wiggins was well in front when he went by so I shouted at him and waved my flag. I hope he heard me.
I’ve been speaking a bit of French because people keep talking to us and a man helped us fold up our tent although we didn’t really need any help, but it was nice of him.
DaySix Chablis to Autun
Chablis is in the middle of white wine country and we saw the vineyards up the hills. We decided to drive down the route before the caravane and get to a hill climb. It was fun because we’ve got signs on our car and it makes us look like we’re part of the caravane. people kept waving and cheering us, so we threw them key rings that mum has for her work.
The countryside here is very different from what we’ve seen so far. Its quite wooded and hilly and looks a bit like Devon. Apparently, it’s a big logging area and logs were floated down the Yonne river but now they go by road. We got stuck behind several lorries carrying them.
Day Five Villers Cotterets to Joigny
It was hot today but still a bit cloudy. We went to a feed station where the riders pick up bags called musettes. This has got food in for them. They eat it on the go. Where I was standing was very narrow and they all came round very quickly. I was sitting right on the edge of the pavement taking pictures. Got loads of free stuff too. The caravane throws it out and you have to duck.
We drove about 160 miles ( I’m not sure what that is in Km) which is a long way and although some of the towns and some of the countryside is pretty, there are lots of wide open boring bits. I’ve been map reading because we’ve decided that the sat nav is more trouble that its worth, except for very simple things like guiding us round a few nearby streets. The trouble is we now don’t know when its Ok or when its gone wrong.
One thing that I thought was funny today was that the place where it ended – Joigny – is twinned with Godalming in Surrey. That’s almost as funny as the place yesterday, Compiegne, which was founded by a King called Charles The Bald.
Day Four Waregem to Compiegne
We started today in Waregem which is in Belgium. It is famous for horseracing. But its only just in Belgium so most of the race was in France. We drove out in front of the race and stopped at a small village called Olliviers. I stood on a bank and Mum was on the road. We had a good view of them coming along and got some good pictures. They were going quite slowly when they came past us and one was on his mobile phone!
The race finished at Compiegne. There is a lot of forest round there, and it made the sat nav go wrong. We got very lost! It is hard work driving around, reading maps, trying to guess where the riders will be and how quickly they will get there. Luckily we guessed right most of the time and we also managed to get some food and some other thing that we needed. Luckily Mum can speak quite good French so she knows what to buy, and she’s teaching me a bit as we go along so I can now read signs and stuff.
A couple of things that I did learn was that Compiegne is the place where Hitler staged the French surrender in 1940. It was in a railway carriage in Rathondes Forest and he shook Marshal Petain’s hand, and the same forest was where trains left with prisoners going to concentration camps. We saw a sign for that. It was quite creepy.
Compiegne is also the strat of another big cycle race – Paris Roubaix, but Le Tour has only been here once before in 1980, and it was stage six.
Villers Cotterts to Joigny
It was a long drive today but we decided to head for a feed station at Nogent Sur Seine. That’s where they pick up the musette bags with food in them. The spot where we were was at the end of the town on a corner and I was right next to the riders. I shouted at Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, and also saw Erik Zabel and the leader, Fabien Cancerella. He’s easy to spot because of his yellow jesrsey. We had real trouble find the press centre for Mum to send her stuff, and we were late getting to where we wanted to stay as a result. I was hungry and tired when we arrived but it was a good day
Sunday 8th
It was very hard work today. We drove down to Mereworth near Maidstone and got a good spot. The crowds built up all morning and I was on a bend right near to where Mum was working. The caravane was funny - they threw things to the crowd and I got a bag. The motorbike riders were cool too and some of the gendarmes were doing tricks on their bikes as they went past. When the riders came along, there were five out front - including David Millar and he got a huge cheer. Then the peloton came along and that was really cool. After they'd gone, we drove down to Faversham and jumped on the train. But we got stuck in some traffic and missed the train we wanted, so we had to wait. When we got to Canterbury, the race was very close, so Mum stuck me near the course where I could see a bit and she then ran off to the finish. I think it must have been very hard for her as it was hot and she had to carry all her gear, including her very big lens which is very heavy. But she got near the finish and to the podium, although she said that she had to climb over a fence and up a wall to get into the secure area. But she got the pictures that she needed - they're on www.photoboxgallery.com/cycleImages and also on http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/.
Saturday 7th
It was the prologue today. I went with some friends from Sutton CC. We started in Victoria Street and then wemnt to Whitehall. We got right by the barriers so we were next to the riders, and after they passed we watched them on the screen. When the British riders came along - especially Wiggins, everybody started really shouting and cheering. It was great. A big gasp went up when Wiggins nearly fell off - he caught his pedal as he leant into a corner. Mum was in the press bit so I couldn't go with her but she's put pictures on www.photoboxgallery.com/CycleImages. More of her stuff is on http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/
Friday, July 6th
Went to the opening ceremony in Trafalgar Square with Mum. There were so many people there and most of it was shut, but we got through because she's got a speciial press pass. I got right on the barrier at the top of Whitehall, at the front and I could see the big screen as well as the riders when they came past. Stuart O'Grady gave me a high five, and I saw Tom Boonen and Bradley Wiggins. Mark Cavendish went by too. There were all these really famous riders right next to me!
Sunday, 1st July
I'm really excited. I recce'd the London to Canterbury stage today with Mum, ready for the real thing next Sunday. That's so she can work out good places to take pictures where the light is good, and where she can set up some interesting shots. I can't wait for it to start!! We're going to the rider presentation on Friday, then I'll watch the prologue on Saturday, then we're off on stage 1 on Sunday.
This is me in my limited edition TdF Grand Depart jersey that ITV gave me. I will be wearing it - but not cycling because last week when I crashed during a race at Crystal Palace, I ripped the jersey that I had on. This one is special, and I'm going to keep it nice.
